Plans to add sidewalks to the busy Chalkville School Rd. are in the works. Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight expects the federal government to provide $132,000 dollars in grant money for the project.

Denaphyo Kemp lives across the street from the school with his 8-year-old son who attends Chalkville Elementary.

Kemp’s son, Dezmond, is one of dozens of children who walk through mud and tall grass on the side of the road to get to school.

“It has to be done because you got small children walking in the roadway,” Commissioner Joe Knight said. “Dodging cars, dodging the bus line, dodging the car lines. It’s a safety issue that concerns all of us.”

Kemp says some children walk for more than a mile without a sidewalk.

“Because you have kids that actually walk farther down to the other apartments to go home,” Kemp said, “So sidewalks would be a great idea to help the kids out.”

But $132,000 dollars only goes so far — not far enough to add sidewalks all the way down the road. Assessment teams from ALDOT, Jefferson County and the Jefferson County School Board will examine the site next week to determine where the biggest needs are. The school board voted this week to contribute up to $15,000 dollars if needed to complete the project.